NEWS
Fasanara names ex-Man Group Hylands to lead firm-wide AI Lab build out
21 July 2026
• Move reflects Fasanara’s aim to embed AI across the firm • AI Lab will deploy next-gen AI capabilities across Fasanara’s proprietary tech stack
London, 21 July 2026 – Fasanara Capital today announced the appointment of James Hylands as Head of Artificial Intelligence, where he will lead the firm's newly established Fasanara AI Lab. Hylands joins from Man Group, where he led generative AI strategy and delivery for the firm's Discretionary division.
The initiative marks a significant step in Fasanara’s long-term strategy to embed artificial intelligence across every layer of the business—from investment decision-making and portfolio management to lending operations, risk management and enterprise productivity. The Fasanara AI Lab will focus on developing and deploying next-generation AI capabilities across the firm’s proprietary technology stack, leveraging one of the industry’s largest alternative credit datasets and Fasanara’s native global data infrastructure.
Francesco Filia, Founder and CEO of Fasanara Capital, said: “Artificial intelligence is becoming foundational infrastructure for the next generation of asset managers. Our competitive advantage has always been rooted in proprietary technology, alternative data and systematic innovation. With James joining us to lead the AI Lab, we are accelerating our ambition to become the world’s leading AI-native alternative asset manager.”
At Man Group, Hylands played a pivotal role in applying advanced technologies to the discretionary investment processes. At Fasanara, he will lead a multidisciplinary team focused on building proprietary AI systems that enhance investment performance while scaling the firm’s technology platform globally.
Hylands will oversee the design and implementation of AI-powered solutions spanning:
• AI-enhanced credit underwriting and lending intelligence
• Advanced trading and portfolio optimisation across a multi-asset, multi-manager platform
• Autonomous investment research and market intelligence
• Risk analytics and predictive monitoring
• Enterprise-wide AI agents to improve operational and quant trading efficiency
• Proprietary AI systems trained on Fasanara’s unique data ecosystem and informed by the company’s depth of expertise.
Fasanara’s AI Lab will also work closely with leading AI companies, universities and technology partners to evaluate emerging models, accelerate experimentation and integrate frontier technologies into the firm’s investment platform.
The AI Lab represents the next evolution of Fasanara’s technology-first approach, extending more than a decade of investment in proprietary lending infrastructure, fintech integrations and data-driven investment processes.
As AI reshapes global financial markets, Fasanara intends to position itself at the forefront of applied artificial intelligence in private credit, digital assets and systematic investing, developing proprietary capabilities that aim to enhance both investment outcomes and client experience.
For more information, please contact:
Fasanara: fasanara@peregrinecommunications.com
About Fasanara Capital
Founded in 2011, Fasanara is a global investment manager that offers tech-enabled asset-based credit and digital assets solutions. With $6 billion (SAR 22.5B) in assets under management, Fasanara employs a technology-driven, systematic investment approach and manages capital on behalf of pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors globally.
With 130 employees globally, Fasanara is a pioneer investor in fintech lending through its liquid Alternative Credit funds, enabling real economy impact. Powered by its proprietary technology platform, with 141 fintech lenders fully integrated from more than 60 countries, Fasanara manages one of the largest and longest-standing fintech lending funds in Europe. Fasanara Capital is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom.
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